Gallardo Settles in After Rough Start

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ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 30: Yovani Gallardo #49 of the Texas Rangers throws against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on September 30, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

In the first inning of Wednesday's key game against the Detroit Tigers, there was a flashback to Tuesday's game with Cole Hamels on the mound.

Rangers starter Yovani Gallardo struck out the first two batters he faced before allowing two straight base runners and a Tyler Collins single to score two two-out runs for the Tigers. Of course, just like on Tuesday night, the Rangers came back in the bottom of the first to tie the game and got a four-run third to finish out the night's scoring in their 6-2 win.

Along the way, Gallardo settled in and actually had a pretty decent outing for the veteran righty, who had been fading over the last few starts.

Of course, Gallardo wasn't one for efficiency or longevity, making it through just 5 1/3 innings on 90 pitches, which has pretty much become his limit this year. But while he was in there, he didn't do anything to hurt the team other than that first inning that started off with so much promise.

Gallardo struck out five and walked just one — a low walk total for him — and showed himself to be a valuable rotation piece once again, and that should give the Rangers some more confidence in him going into the postseason as a No. 2, or possibly No. 3 starter depending on how things line up with the rotation.